Flowmeter



Oct. 7, 1941. J W, MCKERON 2,258,023

' FLOWMETER Filed NOV. -l, 1959 5/ INVENTOR JOHN W. MC KERNON l BY ,J

89 ATTOR'NEY Patented ct. 7, 1941 FLGWMETER John W. McKernon, New Canaan, Conn., assignor to Oxweld Acetylene Company, a corporation of West Virginia l`application November 1, 1939, serial No. maar' (ci. 'z3-.209)

' io claims.

' This invention relates to fiowmeters of the naat-gauge type, and more especially it concerns nowmeters utilizing concentric tubes of transparent material. The owmeter of the invention is designed to allow the free ow oi fluid therethrough, even when thefluid is moving at rates'far in excess of those which the fIowmeter is calibrated to measure. It has especial utility for the flow control of oxygen in hospitals and factories using oxygen supplied through manifold systems, with supply lines delivering oxygen to various points throughout a building.

Among the more important objects of the invention are the following: to provide a sturdy iiowmeter unit ywhich controlsthe feed or oxygen or other fluid, and which renders unnecessary the use of pressure regulators in the feed line to the flowmeter; to provide for preventing injury to the iioat in the event of ow surges such. for

example, as often occur when starting up processing units; to provide in novel manner for preventing sudden or uncontrolled eddy. currents ror non-uniform flow through the graduated gauge tube of the fluid being metered; to provide for permitting unobstructed ow of uid through the meter when ow rates occur which are higher `than those for which the gauge is calibrated; to providea novel combination of owmeter and needle valve; to provide a ow meter having means compensating for variations in the thermal expansion of the parts and thereby preventing injury to the tubular members and the oat. These and other objects will be apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one modification of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a owmeter assembly;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the flowmeter shown in Fig. 1, viewed from the right in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental section taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig; 1looking in the direction of the arrows; and l Fig. a is a View of packing gland and ui distributing member. I

Referring to the drawing, the neat-gauge or owmeter includes a metal body member or gauge base I I of brass or other suitable material, which may be -pressure forged, and which preferably is provided with a hard, smooth surface, as by chromium plating or other suitable means.

The member II has therein a iluid inlet passage I3 having a threaded wall portion adapted to cooperate with the threaded end of an inlet connection i5 of Well-known type, having a coupling member Il for connecting the same to a source of the iluid being metered. A small passage I9 establishes communication between inlet passage I3 and a larger passage 2i in alignment therewith. The latter is counterbored to provide a recessed portion 23. A boss 25 has thereon a threaded outer surface cooperating with the threaded surface `of a valve wheel 2l secured to the stem 29 of a needle valve having 1a seating surface 3| cooperating with a seating surface in y passage I9. A packing gland 33 and an adjustable threaded packing gland 35, with interposed packing, function in the usual manner. A split ring 35 of metal prevents accidental withdrawal of the stem 29 from the base.

The base Il has a vertically-extending passage 4I in communication with passage 2|, the passage 4I being counterbored to provide a ledge 43 forming a support for a calibrated metering tube 45 of a transparent material such as glass or` a suitable condensation vproduct-or plastic. A second counterbore provides an annular recess or chamber 41 in the member Il, the Wall between the recess 41 and ledge 43 having a. tapered portion adapted to support a gasket 49 of soft rubber or'other suitable material. The upper end 50 of the base IIy is counterbored to form a passage in communication with passage 4I and recess 47, the walls forming said passage being threaded at 5I to cooperate with the threadedl outer upper margin of the base.

For supporting the upper margins of tubes 45 and 53, a retaining cap 6I of metal or other suitable material is provided, the said cap having formed therein,by machining or other means,-

` a tube-housing recess 63; a gasket-housing recess gitudinal movement of the latter ldue to expansion and contraction of the respective' tubes, or during assembly of the flowmeter, a hollow tube guide or cap 1l is mounted for axial sliding movement in the recess 61. 'I'he interior of the cap 1| is of sufcient diameter to house the oat 83 hereinafter described. The cap 1I has a flanged lower margin 13 adapted to house the upper end of the calibrated tube 45. A plurality of laterallydisposed apertures 15 in the guide 1I establish free communication between the interior of tube and van annular space 16 formed between tubes 45 and 53. An annular gland and spacing member 11 snuglyrlts around tube 45, and is interposed between the lower end of tube 53 and gasket 49 which rests on a sloping midportion of the passage walls adjacent recess 41. A plurality of passages 19 establish communication between the recess 41 and the annular space 15 between the tubes.

For exerting a selected low pressure upon the upper'end of tube 45 to hold the same securely in place, and to compensate far variations in the thermal expansions of the inner and outer tubes 45, 53, a coil spring 80 or other suitable cushioning memberis operatively interposed between the bottom of the central recess 61 and the top of cap 1|.

For distributing the iluid uniformly through- `out the entire cross-section of the graduated tube under all conditionsof 'flow there are provided at least one, and preferably vrive or 'six,

tine-mesh metal screens 8|, which are operatively interposed between the ledge 43 and the lower end of calibrated tube 45.

'I'he inner Walls of tube 45 taper slightly outwardly in an upward direction in well-known peripheral slits or spiral grooves functioning to` cause the oat or spinner 83 to rotate on its :grtical axis during flow of fluid through tube For supporting the iloat 83 when not in operation, a tubular stop member 85 is mounted in the lower end of tube 45 and rests upon the uppermost screen 8|, the stop member having a tine-mesh screen 86 secured to its upper end and being open at the other end. By providing longitudinal slots 84 in the member 85 at its lower` end, the residual resilient metal lfingers thus formed may be bent to pressingly engage the wall of tube 45 and anchor member 85 in place.

For withdrawing iuid ilowing downwardly in the annular space 16, a passage 81 within the 'base Il opens at one end into the recess 41.

At the other end it extends within an externally-threaded annular boss 89 in member Il, adapted to be connected to a fluid discharge line (not shown).

During operation of the apparatus as an oxygen therapy ilowmeter, oxygen enters the lowmeter at l5, and Ipasses to the needle valve. 'I'he latter, or its equivalent, is designed to provide a very small change in cross-sectional area of the metering orice for a large movement of the valve wheel 21, and closely controls the now of oxygen to chamber 2l.4 The oxygen then flows through screens 8| to the interior of the calibrated tapered tube 45, which may be graduated in terms of liters per minute. The oxygen ow raises float 83 to a height proportional to the rate of'fiow. Simultaneously therewith the iloat spins about its vertical axis, due to v the spiral grooves in the periphery of the upper portion, thereby preventing wobbling and inupwardly at a relatively high velocity and strike the upper end of the tube guide 1l, the shock thus' imparted is substantially entirely absorbed by the spring 80, and thus is not transmitted to the other parts of the flowmeter.

When using theiiowmeter for supplying oxygen to an oxygen tent, it is desirable to fully open the control valve in order to purge the tent as quickly as'possible. 'Ihe present apparatus is especially adapted to facilitate this. Thus the interior of the guide member 1I is made sumciently large to accommodate the float 83 when such .excess pressure and increased flow rates are applied. Consequently at such times,

the iioat rises quickly above the ports 15, thereby` preventing all impedance of the maximum flow of oxygen. Undue shock or injury to the iloat in the event of sudden rise and impacting of the latter upon the guide member 1I due to ilow surges in the fluid lines is prevented by the cushioning yeffect of the spring or equivalent cushioning member. I

The flowmeter may quickly be disassembled when desired for cleaning or replacing the screens 8l, or for other purposes.

Upon removing the cap 8| and the gland'nut 51, the outer tube may be removed. The inner tube and associated parts then may be readily removed. For replacement of the calibrated tubel 45, it is only necessary to remove the cap 5| and guide 1I and loosen nut 51 and tube 53, whereupon the tube 45 and oat 83 may be removed.

The invention is susceptible of modi'cation within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: i l

1. A fiowmeter of the iloat-gauge type, com` prising a base having a fluid inlet therein:

, concentric spaced transparent tubes carried by said base and including an outer tube secured to said base, and an inner calibrated gauge tube having a tapered inner wall; a fluid-tight cap` 2. A owmeter as defined in claim 1, wherein the said tube guide is hollow and adapted .with a screen, and means for maintaining the to house said oat and prevent obstruction by the latter of the free ow of uid from said inner tube to said annular space athlgh ow rates.

3; A flowmeter as defined in claim 1, together with at least one iine-meshiscreen interposed between said huid inlet, and the inlet of said inner tube, and means for maintaining the float member at all times in spaced relation to said screen.

4. A ilowmeter as dened in claim 1, together with a needle-type valve mounted. in -said base and controlling communication between said uid inlet and the interior-of said inner tube, a fluiddistributing screen disposed adjacent the outlet of said, valve, and means operatively interposed between said iloat member and said screen for maintaining the former in vspaced relation to the latter.

5. A owmeter as defined in claim 1, together with means interposed between said outer tube and said base and surrounding the lower end of said inner tube, said means including an apertured annular gland and spacing member interposed between said outer tube and said inner tube, and aresilient gasket disposed between said base and said spacing member.

6. A fiowmeter oi the neat-gauge type, which comprises a base having a uld inlet'and a duid outlet, ,a pair of concentric transparent tubes supported on said base,'the innermost tube having tapered inner walls and having its interior in communication with said duid inlet, means for securing the outermost tube to said base, means connecting the annular space between the respective tubes with the uid outlet, a :duid-tight cap secured to said outer tube, apertured guide means operatively interposed between said cap and the upper end oi said inner tube and inevable in a direction longitudinally oi said inner tube, said guide means establishing communication between the interior of said inner tube and the annular space between the tubes while mslm.

taining the respective .tubes in concentric relation, and cushioning means interposed between said cap and said guide means.

7.- A iiowrneter as defined in claim 1, together with a screen, and means ormaintaining the' `:doet member at all times in spaced relation to said screen.

iioat member at all times in spaced relation to said screen, said last-named means having portions adapted pressingly to engage the wall of said inner tube and anchor said last-named means in place. i

9. A iiowmeter oi' the neat-gauge type, comn prising a base having a :duid inlet and a uid outlet; an inner transparent tube supported upon said base, said .tube having tapered side walls and having its interior in communication with said fiuid inlet; an outer transparent tube surrounding the walls of said inner tube and sup ported on said base; means connecting the annular space between the respective tubes with said fluid outlet; a fluid-tight cap secured to said outer tube; apertured guide means operatively interposed between said cap and the upper end of said inner tube, and movable in a direction longitudinally-.oi saidinner tube; said guide means establishing communication between the interior oisaid inner tube and the annular space between the tubes, while maintaining the respective tubes in spaced relation; and cushioning means operatively interposedbetween said can and said guide means.

i0. .a owmeter oi the doet-gauge type. cornarising a base leaving a fluid :inlet and a duid ying communication between the interior oi said inner tube and the annular space between the tubes while maintaining the respective tubes in spaced relation; and means operatively associated with said guide means for cushioning said cap andassociated parts against the shock oi impact of the naat member transmitted by said guide means.

imm W. MCKEIRNON. 

